Pichuca (GB) wins the Premio Atlántida

Pichuca (GB, 2008) [Silent Times-Milady's Pride] ridden by J. L. Borrego won this Sunday 20th the Premio Atlántida at La Zarzuela (Madrid) for trainer M. J. Pérez and owner Cuadra Pegaso. The Premio Atlántida is a 1,400 m race reserved for 3 y/o fillies. The chestnut filly took the lead early in the race and commanded until the end. Bucovina (SPA) [Dyhim Diamond-Spette Thon(Marathon)] was second in a late charge, with Azamor (SPA) [Slickly-Red Bravo(Red Ransom)] third and the favourite Clunia fourth. This is the second consecutive win for Pichuca, who has a two year full sister entered in the Breeze-Up sale in Madrid next Saturday. Here is the race: Premio Atlántida 2011.

In the first race, a 1,600 m for 3 y/o maidens, the winner was Happy Few [Ballingbarry-Ventolera(Gulch)] a bay colt owned by Cuadra Odisea, ridden by Alvaro Gómez and trained by I. Gómez. Flash Val (SPA, 2008) [Denver County-Lake Coinsance(Lake Coniston)] was second, with Llanes (USA) [Giant's Causeway-Coachella(Danehill)] third.

In the third race, a 1,600 m for unraced Spanish-bred 3 y/o, the winner was Eltso (SPA, 2008), a chestnut colt [Dyhim Diamond-Katherine(Don Roberto)] owned by Cuadra San Cristóbal and trained by J. López, ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. Eltso, in a thrilling finish, along with Don Fernando Hab [Intikhab] (second), caught Aljarafe in the post. Aljarafe, [Russian Blue-Noche(Night Shift)] is a half brother to Sam Winner, recent 4th in the JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) at Cheltenham and Grade 2 winner in hurdles last November.
Here is the race: Premio Cría Nacional


Meanwhile, the sixth race was the first victory in Spain for the stallion Federal Trial (USA), who stands in Orense, when Prince Trial (SPA, 2008] [Federal Trial-Vagabunda(Don Roberto)] found a gap to push through in the stretch, beating the favourite Coside (USA, 2008) [Cozzene-Fairy Heights(Fairy King)]. Prince Trial is owned by Cuadra Zalduendo and trained by J. C. Fernández and was ridden by Alvaro Gómez [who made a hat trick in this meeting]. Here is the race: Premio Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales

Prince Trial (SPA) beats Coside (USA). Photo courtesy of Cortacabeza.wordpress.com

Breeze-up and HIT sale in Madrid, Saturday March 26th

The Spanish Thoroughbred Breeders Association (ACPSIE) (website: Criadorespsi.es) will conduct the first breeze-up sale ever conducted in Spain in the La Zarzuela racetrack, Saturday March 26th. The number of 2 y/o presented will be 15 (16, with an additional sale of 7 (8) horses in training. The breeze-up will take place at 11.00 h and the sale will begin at 13.00 h

Photo: a sale in Madrid, 2009

The 2 y/o catalogue includes sons/daughgters of Motivator, Panis, Modigliani, Caradak, Visindar, Hawk Wing, Wagon Master, Federal Trial, Generous, Silent Times, Fol Parade and Fragrant Wells. Here is the catalogue (PDF)

The two year olds are:

Lot 1 Obla Da, (SPA) bay filly, 13 may 2009 [Fragrant Wells-Jacapaca(Sharp n'early)]

Lot 2 Blade Runner (SPA) chestnut colt, 5 feb 2009 [Fol Parade-La Chata(Barathea)]

Lot 3 Micerous (SPA), chestnut colt, 16 Mar 2009 [Generous-Lonicera(Charmer)]

Lot 4 Henares (SPA), bay colt, 13 Feb 2009 [Fol Parade-Nadjy(Verglas)]

Lot 5 Arwen (SPA), chestnut filly, 4 may 2009 [Silent Times-Milady's Pride(Machiavellian)]

Lot 6 Silent Hab (SPA), chestnut filly, 15 Mar 2009 [Silent Times-Scala da Vinci(Acatenango)]

Lot 7 Valkiria (SPA), bay filly, 7 Feb 2009 [Visindar-Snow Dream(Sagacity)]

Lot 8 Agora (SPA) bay filly, 7 Apr 2009 [Federal Trial-Zarallana(Don Roberto)]

Lot 9 N (SPA) bay filly, 1 Mar 2009, [Motivator-Anysheba(Alysheba)]

Lot 10 Tadi's Hab (SPA) bay filly, 13 Mar 2009 [Caradak-Astuce(Groom Dancer)]

Liza (SPA) bay filly, 8 Feb 2009 [Egeo-Brevaya(Neverneyev)]

Lot 11 Obla di (SPA) chestnut colt, 15 Mar 2009 [Wagon Master-Brillantina(Silver Cape)]

Lot 12 El Infante (SPA) bay colt, 25 Mar 2009 [Wagon Master-Emerald Princess(Even Top)]

Lot 13 Pank (SPA), bay filly, 24 Mar 2009 [Panis-Espagnola(Entrepreneur)]

Lot 14 N (SPA), chestnut colt, 10 Apr 2009 [Hawk Wing-Harda Arda(Nureyev)]

Lot 15 N (SPA), chestnut colt, 20 Apr 2009 [Modigliani-Tarwila(In the Wings)]

The horses in training presented will be (here is the Cataogue (PDF):

Lot 16 Sudafricana Hab (GB, 2008) is a chestnut filly [Silent Times-Poison Pen(In the Wings)] with 7 starts and 6 placings. Trained by D. Diez.

Lot 17 Herri Irratia (SPA, 2008) is a bay filly [Denver County-Etel Parade], with 6 starts, 5 placings, in Spain and France. Trained by M. Delcher S.

Lot 18 Alabama (SPA, 2008] [Sorcerous-Arkansas] is a bay filly, with one win (in her debut) and 5 placings. She is full sister to multiple winner Joy Division (SPA) and half sister to multiple winner New Order (SPA) [by Multazem]

Lot 19 Moly (SPA, 2008) is a bay filly [Baptize-La Umbría(Emir Abadou)] , unplaced in 5 starts. Trained by J. López.

Lot 20 Campata (SPA, 2007) is a bay filly [Wagon Master-Jacapaca(Sharp N'early)], with 12 starts and 5 placings. Trained by O. Rodríguez

Lot 21 Perfectamente (GB, 2006) is a chestnut filly [Reset-Phantastica], with 26 starts, 3 wins and 9 placings and 27,755 euros in earnings. Trained by Yan Durepaire.

Lot 22 Leonardo (SPA) is a chestnut colt [Peintre Celebre-Golden Fortune(Forzando)] unraced to date. Trained by J. A. Rodríguez

Xela (IRE, 2008) is a bay filly [Delfos-Celibataire(Saumarez)], with only a start to date (last 13 of March 2011). Trained by G. Arizcorreta.

Clunia (IRE) returns in the Premio Atlántida

Clunia (IRE, 2008) [Silent Times-Doohulla(Stravinsky)], the best 2 y/o filly of 2010 in Spain, trained by G. Villarta, ownd by Cuadra Brazacorta and ridden by Borja Fayos, will reappear after her winter rest in the Premio Atlántida, a 1,400 m race for 3 y/o fillies, traditional prep race for the Premio Valderas (Spanish 1,000 guineas), this Sunday in the La Zarzuela racecourse (Madrid).

Clunia. Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress.com

Clunia will face 7 rivals, including Queenside (USA) [Leroidesanimaux-Bragadocious], owned by Safsaf, trained by M. Delcher Sánchez, already winner this year in Mijas and second to Clunia in the Premio Carlos Sobrino and Sinapsis (GB) [Sinndar-Russian Beauty] owned by R. Cocheteaux and trained by J. M. Osorio. Also partants: Carioka (SPA) [Devil Moon], Azamor (SPA) [Slickly], Bucovina (SPA) [Dyhim Diamond], Pichuca (GB) [Silent Times] and Figueira da Foz (SPA) [Baptize]

Winners of this race in recent years have been Ercolini (2010), Wega (2009), Doraq (2008), Casbah (2007) and Afriketa (2006)

Races this Saturday in Antela, Orense

Besides the Sunday meeting in La Zarzuela, the racetrack of Antela (Orense, Spain) will also hold 6 races this Saturday,including:

A 2,400 m race for amateur jockeys, a 1,200 m race (with Alternative (GB), the recent winner in Mijas, a 1,800 m Handicap in two parts, a 1,600 m race for 3 Y/o and a 1,600 m race in which the horses will be ridden by trainers (sometimes their own trainers). So, we will see G. Arizcorreta, J. C. Lopera, T. Callejo, J. A,. Rodríguez, J. M. Borrego, A. Sánchez and J. C. Fernández remembering their past times as jockeys.

These races will be offered live by the website http://www.pasionporelturf.es/

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All horses of the Cuadra Quinto Real, including the impressive winner of the Hándicap Opcional, Ayanz, have been assigned to trainer G. Arizcorreta. Their previous trainer was M. Delcher S.

Ayanz wins the Handicap Opcional, Cabo Cañaveral wins the Fernán Núñez

Ayanz (GB, 2008) [Tiger Hill-Got to Go((Shareef Dancer)], ridden by Jorge Horcajada for trainer M. Delcher S and Cuadra Quinto Real, won the Handicap Opcional by eight lengths, carrying 53 kg. Betanzos (SPA) [Kahswan-Bridge Pool(First Trump)] (50 kg) was second and Festeiro [Fol Parade-New Vert(Vert Amande)] (60 kg) was third. This is the second win in three starts for Ayanz. Mil Azul, one of the favourites, didn't run.

Video: Handicap Opcional

Ayanz going to the starting gates. Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress.com

The Premio Fernán Núñez, a 2,200 m handicap for 4 y/o+ was won by the top weight, Cabo Cañaveral (FR, 2005)[Sendawar-Napeta(Woodman)], owned by Salvador Márquez, trained by J. A. Rodríguez and ridden by Vaclav Janacek, beating Duke (GER), Midgard (IRE) and Vivement Dimanche (GB). Inkhayan (SPA) was sacrified because of an injury sustained in this race.

Here is the race: Premio Fernán Núñez

Cabo Cañaveral, a 6 y/o horse, has now 30 starts with 8 wins and 79,200 euros in earnings. He is half-brother to Dink (FR), also owned by Salvador Márquez

There were also two interesting races for unraced 3 y/o. In the first one, for colts, the winner was Safsaf's Nova Cat (FR) [Hurricane Cat-Miss Fine(Kaldoun)] a grey colt trained by Yan Durepaire and ridden by Borja Fayos. Libertino (FR, 2008) [Daliapour-My Lucky Day(Darshaan)] owned by Cuadra Seta de Cubilla and trained by G. Arizcorreta was second and Francesco Cara (FR) [Della Francesca-Magic Cara(Akarad)] was third.

Tafadhali (SPA, 2008) [Dyhim Diamond-Laida(Slip Anchor)], a chestnut filly, ridden by F. Jiménez for trainer J. López and Cuadra Lajorquin, won the equivalent race for fillies (1,600 m, unraced fillies). Tafadhali was one of the four daughters of Dihym Diamond that made their debut in this race.

Handicap Opcional and Premio Fernán Núñez this Sunday in Madrid

The first meeting of the Spring season in Madrid features as the main of the six races the traditional Handicap Opcional (named this year "Premio Día Internacional de la Mujer - Handicap Opcional). It is a 1,600 m race reserved for winners or two-times placed 3 y/o.
The joint top-weight partants are Festeiro (SPA) [Fol Parade-New Vert(Vert Amande)], a chestnut colt owned by Cuadra El Negredo, trained by M. Delcher and Mil Azul (SPA) [Russian Blue-Cuittled(Charismatic)] a bay colt owned by Yeguada Urdiñ-Oriya and trained by J. L Salas.

Mil Azul was second to Clunia in the Premio Martorell and then won the Criterium Nacional (main race for 2 y/o Spanish breds in the summer season) but then he was a disappointing 5th in the Copa de Criadores. This is the Criterium Nacional: Premio El País-Criterium Nacional in San Sebastián, last summer.

Mil Azul in Madrid. Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress.org

The Premio Fernán Núñez is also a traditional race, a 2,200 m Handicap race for 4 y/o+. The interesting field includes, among others Cabo Cañaveral (FR) [Sendawar-Napeta(Woodman)] owned by Salvador Márquez, Inkhayan (SPA) [Sulamani-Cuddles], owned by Cuadra Santa Bárbara, third in the Premio Villamejor (Spanish St. Leger), Duke (GER) [Second Set-Deborah], winner this winter, Orgi (SPA, 2007)
[Dyhim Diamond-Attrape], Indian Lou (SPA, 2007) [Indian Haven-Marylou Whitney]

Silverside (USA) unplaced in the Zabeel Mile, Ariete arrollador (GB) wins in France

Silverside (USA) finished unplaced in the Zabeel Mile yesterday. Running in 5th position, he advanced in the last turn, but later he didn't find space and was not quick enough to pull through some openings in the final stages.

The race was won by Godolphin's Rileyskeepingfaith (GB), ridden by Ahmad Ajtebi for trainer M. Al Zarooni, with Fareer (GB), ridden by R. Hills for E. Dunlop in second place.

This is the video: Zabeel Mile 2011

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Meanwhile, Ariete Arrollador (GB, 2007), [Kingsalsa-Proud Douna] the bay colt, winner of the Premio Cimera (Spanish 2,000 Guineas) in 2010, returned to the victory after some disappointing results, easily winning a claiming race yesterday in the dirt track of Deauville, France. Ariete arrollador was ridden by Ioritz Mendizábal. He is owned by Cuadra Albero and trained by G. Arizcorreta. Here is the race (second video, colors: orange and green):
http://www.porunpeloturf.es/?p=663

Ariete arrollador (GB) in Madrid, 2010. Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress.com